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  35. <title>Song Review: Limahl &#8211; &#8220;A Horse With No Name&#8221;</title>
  36. <link>https://aeschtunes.com/2025/03/29/song-review-limahl-a-horse-with-no-name/</link>
  37. <comments>https://aeschtunes.com/2025/03/29/song-review-limahl-a-horse-with-no-name/#respond</comments>
  39. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Lesley Aeschliman]]></dc:creator>
  40. <pubDate>Sat, 29 Mar 2025 20:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
  41. <category><![CDATA[music]]></category>
  42. <category><![CDATA[review]]></category>
  43. <category><![CDATA[2020s]]></category>
  44. <category><![CDATA[2020s music]]></category>
  45. <category><![CDATA[A Horse With No Name]]></category>
  46. <category><![CDATA[electronic music]]></category>
  47. <category><![CDATA[Limahl]]></category>
  48. <category><![CDATA[music review]]></category>
  49. <guid isPermaLink="false">http://aeschtunes.com/?p=25552</guid>
  50.  
  51. <description><![CDATA[In March 2025, Limahl, the former lead singer of Kajagoogoo and artist behind “The NeverEnding Story,” released a cover of America’s “A Horse With No Name.” Admittedly, I had basically lost track of Limahl after “The NeverEnding Story” since he never had another solo hit in the United States after that, so I had no&#8230; <a href="https://aeschtunes.com/2025/03/29/song-review-limahl-a-horse-with-no-name/" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">Song Review: Limahl &#8211; &#8220;A Horse With No&#160;Name&#8221;</span></a>]]></description>
  52. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>In March 2025, Limahl, the former lead singer of Kajagoogoo and artist behind “The NeverEnding Story,” released a cover of America’s “A Horse With No Name.” Admittedly, I had basically lost track of Limahl after “The NeverEnding Story” since he never had another solo hit in the United States after that, so I had no idea that he was still recording and releasing music over the past 40 years. I was already curious enough to hear something new by Limahl and then adding in the fact that this is a cover of a song that I like by America, I knew I needed to check it out and review it.</p>
  53. <p>Musically, Limahl updated the song with a 2020’s sound and put an electronic twist on it that helps make the song his own. However, he still managed to retain the spirit of the original track. To me, these two elements are what create a strong cover version of a song. I found this cover of “A Horse With No Name” to be both catchy and an enjoyable listen.</p>
  54. <p>I first heard of Limahl’s cover through a Bluesky post, and the way the poster described the track, I was trying to keep my expectations lowered because I thought it was going to sound kind of odd. So, when I actually heard Limahl’s rendition of this song, it blew me away and I fell in love with it. And I have to say, even though Limahl’s voice has aged and changed a bit from what I remember from his material from the early-to-mid 1980’s, I thought he still sounds fantastic.</p>
  55. <p>With this being a cover, the lyrics aren’t something I’m really going to delve much into. Of course, it doesn’t help that even the meaning of the lyrics in America’s original version aren’t entirely clear.</p>
  56. <p>I think that fans of Limahl will appreciate his cover of “A Horse With No Name,” and I think the track could also appeal to listeners who enjoy electronic music but may not already be familiar with him or his earlier material. I thought this was a great cover, and I hope that pop music listeners will be willing to give this song a chance.</p>
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  59. </div>
  60. <p><em>(reviewed by Lesley Aeschliman on March 29, 2025)</em></p>
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  73. <title>Song of the Moment: Jewel &#8211; &#8220;Standing Still&#8221;</title>
  74. <link>https://aeschtunes.com/2025/03/29/song-of-the-moment-jewel-standing-still/</link>
  75. <comments>https://aeschtunes.com/2025/03/29/song-of-the-moment-jewel-standing-still/#respond</comments>
  77. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Lesley Aeschliman]]></dc:creator>
  78. <pubDate>Sat, 29 Mar 2025 17:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
  79. <category><![CDATA[music]]></category>
  80. <category><![CDATA[2000s]]></category>
  81. <category><![CDATA[2000s music]]></category>
  82. <category><![CDATA[Jewel]]></category>
  83. <category><![CDATA[pop music]]></category>
  84. <category><![CDATA[Standing Still]]></category>
  85. <guid isPermaLink="false">http://aeschtunes.com/?p=25426</guid>
  86.  
  87. <description><![CDATA[&#8220;Standing Still&#8221; was released as a single from Jewel&#8217;s 2001 album, This Way. The single was released on September 24, 2001, and peaked at number 25 on the Billboard Hot 100. I was 26 years old when &#8220;Standing Still&#8221; was released as a single. I have to admit that, at the time, I knew this&#8230; <a href="https://aeschtunes.com/2025/03/29/song-of-the-moment-jewel-standing-still/" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">Song of the Moment: Jewel &#8211; &#8220;Standing&#160;Still&#8221;</span></a>]]></description>
  88. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>&#8220;Standing Still&#8221; was released as a single from Jewel&#8217;s 2001 album, <em>This Way</em>. The single was released on September 24, 2001, and peaked at number 25 on the Billboard Hot 100.</p>
  89. <p>I was 26 years old when &#8220;Standing Still&#8221; was released as a single. I have to admit that, at the time, I knew this song was out there and I heard it, but I just kind of&#8230; ignored it, for some reason. Looking at when it was released, though, I wonder if the fact that it was released not too long after the September 11 attacks in the United States might have caused me to not pay as much attention to it as I might have otherwise. Remembering the mood that I would have been in at the time, I was more likely to gravitate to songs that had themes that I could relate to what had happened (such as “Hero” by Enrique Iglesias, which would have been out at the time same time).</p>
  90. <p>While I might have let “Standing Still” pass me by in the early 2000’s, I rediscovered the song years later and realized that it’s actually a pretty good track. I’ve definitely gained a better appreciation for it in more recent years. While this may not rank up there among my favorite songs by Jewel, I have come around to liking this one. It might be a song with a common theme of wondering if the person you’re interested in reciprocates your feelings, but the simpler arrangement and Jewel’s vocal performance work together to sell the emotion behind the words.</p>
  91. <p>After “Standing Still,” I wouldn’t have another Jewel song on my radar until she released “<a href="https://aeschtunes.com/2025/02/14/song-of-the-moment-jewel-intuition/">Inuition</a>” in 2003 as the lead-off single from her fifth studio album, <em>0304</em>.</p>
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  94. </div>
  95. ]]></content:encoded>
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  107. <title>Song Review: Linkin Park &#8211; &#8220;Up From the Bottom&#8221;</title>
  108. <link>https://aeschtunes.com/2025/03/28/song-review-linkin-park-up-from-the-bottom/</link>
  109. <comments>https://aeschtunes.com/2025/03/28/song-review-linkin-park-up-from-the-bottom/#respond</comments>
  111. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Lesley Aeschliman]]></dc:creator>
  112. <pubDate>Fri, 28 Mar 2025 20:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
  113. <category><![CDATA[music]]></category>
  114. <category><![CDATA[review]]></category>
  115. <category><![CDATA[2020s]]></category>
  116. <category><![CDATA[2020s music]]></category>
  117. <category><![CDATA[Linkin Park]]></category>
  118. <category><![CDATA[music review]]></category>
  119. <category><![CDATA[rock]]></category>
  120. <category><![CDATA[Up From the Bottom]]></category>
  121. <guid isPermaLink="false">http://aeschtunes.com/?p=25536</guid>
  122.  
  123. <description><![CDATA[In March 2025, Linkin Park released “Up From the Bottom,” a new song included on the forthcoming deluxe edition release of the band’s 2024 album, From Zero. After reviewing “The Emptiness Machine” and “Over Each Other” last year and liking them both, I knew I needed to listen to and review this song. Musically, “Up&#8230; <a href="https://aeschtunes.com/2025/03/28/song-review-linkin-park-up-from-the-bottom/" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">Song Review: Linkin Park &#8211; &#8220;Up From the&#160;Bottom&#8221;</span></a>]]></description>
  124. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>In March 2025, Linkin Park released “Up From the Bottom,” a new song included on the forthcoming deluxe edition release of the band’s 2024 album, <em>From Zero</em>. After reviewing “<a href="https://aeschtunes.com/2024/09/07/song-review-linkin-park-the-emptiness-machine/">The Emptiness Machine</a>” and “<a href="https://aeschtunes.com/2024/10/24/song-review-linkin-park-over-each-other/">Over Each Other</a>” last year and liking them both, I knew I needed to listen to and review this song.</p>
  125. <p>Musically, “Up From the Bottom” is an uptempo rock track, but it doesn’t sound quite as intense as either “The Emptiness Machine” or “Over Each Other.” I don’t want to quite say that it sounds more “pop” than the other material I’ve heard from this era, but I think that sonically, this one could potentially get some pop radio airplay. To be honest, I don’t mind the fact that “Up From the Bottom” doesn’t sound as intense as Linkin Park’s well-known material. I appreciate hearing that the band is willing to vary its sound so all their material doesn’t come across as sounding the same. Emily’s vocals sell the song’s lyrics, and Mike’s contributions complement Emily’s performance.</p>
  126. <p>Lyrically, “Up From the Bottom” includes the ideas and themes that listeners have come to expect from Linkin Park. The song seems to be from the point of view of a speaker who’s down on their luck and can’t see a way where they can improve their situation. In one of Mike’s sections, the lyrics seem to indicate that the speaker has had a rough life and helps to explain why the speaker feels the way that they do.</p>
  127. <p>While “Up From the Bottom” may not be a bombastic rocker, I still thought the song rocked and sounded great. Fans of this era of Linkin Park’s career will likely have the strongest appreciation for the song. As for Linkin Park fans that haven’t necessarily been sold on the <em>From Zero</em> era, your mileage may vary. Listeners who may not have strong feelings either way about Linkin  Park’s new material, as well as listeners who may not already be familiar with the band, may find something to enjoy here.</p>
  128. <div class="jetpack-video-wrapper">
  129. <div class="embed-youtube"><iframe title="Up From The Bottom (Official Music Video) - Linkin Park" width="825" height="464" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/97Mj6pXYMd8?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
  130. </div>
  131. <p><em>(reviewed by Lesley Aeschliman on March 28, 2025)</em></p>
  132. ]]></content:encoded>
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  144. <title>Song Review: Bryan Adams &#8211; &#8220;Make Up Your Mind&#8221;</title>
  145. <link>https://aeschtunes.com/2025/03/28/song-review-bryan-adams-make-up-your-mind/</link>
  146. <comments>https://aeschtunes.com/2025/03/28/song-review-bryan-adams-make-up-your-mind/#respond</comments>
  148. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Lesley Aeschliman]]></dc:creator>
  149. <pubDate>Fri, 28 Mar 2025 17:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
  150. <category><![CDATA[music]]></category>
  151. <category><![CDATA[review]]></category>
  152. <category><![CDATA[2020s]]></category>
  153. <category><![CDATA[2020s music]]></category>
  154. <category><![CDATA[Bryan Adams]]></category>
  155. <category><![CDATA[Make Up Your Mind]]></category>
  156. <category><![CDATA[music review]]></category>
  157. <category><![CDATA[pop music]]></category>
  158. <category><![CDATA[rock]]></category>
  159. <category><![CDATA[singer-songwriter]]></category>
  160. <guid isPermaLink="false">http://aeschtunes.com/?p=25157</guid>
  161.  
  162. <description><![CDATA[In March 2025, Bryan Adams released “Make Up Your Mind,” a song from his forthcoming album, Roll With the Punches. Back in 2023, I had checked out and reviewed “What If There Were No Sides at All” and “You’re Awesome,” and I appreciated both of those tracks. When I saw that he had released a&#8230; <a href="https://aeschtunes.com/2025/03/28/song-review-bryan-adams-make-up-your-mind/" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">Song Review: Bryan Adams &#8211; &#8220;Make Up Your&#160;Mind&#8221;</span></a>]]></description>
  163. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>In March 2025, Bryan Adams released “Make Up Your Mind,” a song from his forthcoming album, <em>Roll With the Punches</em>. Back in 2023, I had checked out and reviewed “<a href="https://aeschtunes.com/2023/05/19/song-review-bryan-adams-what-if-there-were-no-sides-at-all/">What If There Were No Sides at All</a>” and “<a href="https://aeschtunes.com/2023/10/06/song-review-bryan-adams-youre-awesome/">You’re Awesome</a>,” and I appreciated both of those tracks. When I saw that he had released a new song, I knew I needed to check it out.</p>
  164. <p>Musically, “Make Up Your Mind” is an uptempo pop rock number that sounds like a modernized version of Bryan’s sound from the 1980’s and early 1990’s. This is a sound that works well for Bryan, so I found this to be a good thing. It’s a catchy track that grabs that listener’s attention. With this more recent material, I’ve been impressed by Bryan’s vocal performance. While some singers’ voices noticeably change as they age, I don’t hear this at all with Bryan. His voice now sounds so close to the way it did during his heyday that you basically can’t tell a difference. Bryan’s performance perfectly complements the song’s musical arrangement.</p>
  165. <p>Lyrically, “Make Up Your Mind” is from the point of view of a speaker who is at an emotional crossroads in a relationship. They’re addressing their significant other, urging them to make a choice between moving forward together or parting ways. This is a lyrical theme that has the potential to appeal to a lot of listeners, especially to those who have gone through a similar emotional crossroads in relationships.</p>
  166. <p>I really enjoyed “Make Up Your Mind,” and it continues the strong track record that Bryan’s more recent material has had for me. If this song is any indication of what to expect from the forthcoming <em>Roll With the Punches</em> album, then I’m looking forward to checking it out when it’s released.</p>
  167. <div class="jetpack-video-wrapper">
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  169. </div>
  170. <p><em>(reviewed by Lesley Aeschliman on March 28, 2025)</em></p>
  171. ]]></content:encoded>
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  174. <slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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  183. <title>Song Review: Arika &#8211; &#8220;inclusion&#8221;</title>
  184. <link>https://aeschtunes.com/2025/03/27/song-review-arika-inclusion/</link>
  185. <comments>https://aeschtunes.com/2025/03/27/song-review-arika-inclusion/#respond</comments>
  187. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Lesley Aeschliman]]></dc:creator>
  188. <pubDate>Fri, 28 Mar 2025 02:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
  189. <category><![CDATA[music]]></category>
  190. <category><![CDATA[review]]></category>
  191. <category><![CDATA[2020s]]></category>
  192. <category><![CDATA[2020s music]]></category>
  193. <category><![CDATA[Arika]]></category>
  194. <category><![CDATA[inclusion]]></category>
  195. <category><![CDATA[J-pop]]></category>
  196. <category><![CDATA[music review]]></category>
  197. <guid isPermaLink="false">http://aeschtunes.com/?p=25514</guid>
  198.  
  199. <description><![CDATA[On March 26, 2025, Arika released the video for “inclusion,” a song that’s being used as the ending theme for the second season of the Unnamed Memory anime. Arika is a unit made up of voice actor and singer Yuko Natsuyoshi and guitarist and composer Yamato. When it comes to the Unnamed Memory anime, my&#8230; <a href="https://aeschtunes.com/2025/03/27/song-review-arika-inclusion/" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">Song Review: Arika &#8211; &#8220;inclusion&#8221;</span></a>]]></description>
  200. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>On March 26, 2025, Arika released the video for “inclusion,” a song that’s being used as the ending theme for the second season of the <em>Unnamed Memory</em> anime. Arika is a unit made up of voice actor and singer Yuko Natsuyoshi and guitarist and composer Yamato. When it comes to the <em>Unnamed Memory</em> anime, my only familiarity with it comes from reading a series synopsis and anibloggers’ opinions of the anime.</p>
  201. <p>Musically, “inclusion” is a ballad that has a rather standard sonic feel for an anime ending theme. It’s not that say that it’s derivative or unoriginal, though. When I listened to this song, it has an “anime ending theme” vibe to me. There’s a strong focus on the piano for the song’s musical arrangement, but there are also some other instruments and elements that add some texture to the track. Yuko Natsuyoshi has a beautiful voice, and her performance on this song raises this from being a “decent” ballad to a “great” one. She also perfectly captures the emotion behind the lyrics in her delivery.</p>
  202. <p>The video I watched for “inclusion” on YouTube included an English translation of the lyrics in the closed captioning. However, since these are generated by a machine translation of the Japanese closed captioning, they can be a little wonky. Fortunately, I found an English translation of the lyrics posted on the internet. Reading through the translation, the lyrics seem to be from the point of view of a speaker who is hoping to encounter a particular person who they feel they’re supposed to find. I may be off on my interpretation, but that’s the theme I’m picking up on from this translation.</p>
  203. <p>I think that fans of Arika and of the <em>Unnamed Memory</em> anime will have the strongest appreciation for “inclusion,” but I think that listeners who already listen to J-pop might find something to like here as well. As far as western music audiences, I believe the song might appeal to listeners who enjoy pop ballads and don’t mind listening to a song being sung in a foreign language.</p>
  204. <div class="jetpack-video-wrapper">
  205. <div class="embed-youtube"><iframe title="Arika「inclusion」×「Unnamed Memory」Special Music Video" width="825" height="464" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vvL1VYf-tgo?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
  206. </div>
  207. <p><em>(reviewed by Lesley Aeschliman on March 27, 2025)</em></p>
  208. ]]></content:encoded>
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  211. <slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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  220. <title>Song Review: The Gospellers featuring Anly &#8211; &#8220;will be fine&#8221;</title>
  221. <link>https://aeschtunes.com/2025/03/27/song-review-the-gospellers-featuring-anly-will-be-fine/</link>
  222. <comments>https://aeschtunes.com/2025/03/27/song-review-the-gospellers-featuring-anly-will-be-fine/#respond</comments>
  224. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Lesley Aeschliman]]></dc:creator>
  225. <pubDate>Thu, 27 Mar 2025 23:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
  226. <category><![CDATA[music]]></category>
  227. <category><![CDATA[review]]></category>
  228. <category><![CDATA[2020s]]></category>
  229. <category><![CDATA[2020s music]]></category>
  230. <category><![CDATA[Anly]]></category>
  231. <category><![CDATA[J-pop]]></category>
  232. <category><![CDATA[music review]]></category>
  233. <category><![CDATA[The Gospellers]]></category>
  234. <category><![CDATA[will be fine]]></category>
  235. <guid isPermaLink="false">http://aeschtunes.com/?p=25511</guid>
  236.  
  237. <description><![CDATA[On March 26, 2025, five-member Japanese a cappella vocal group The Gospellers released the music video for “will be fine,” which is a collaboration with singer-songwriter Anly. The song is being used as the ending theme for the Winter 2025 anime, Ameku M.D.: Doctor Detective. I have to be upfront in this review and admit&#8230; <a href="https://aeschtunes.com/2025/03/27/song-review-the-gospellers-featuring-anly-will-be-fine/" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">Song Review: The Gospellers featuring Anly &#8211; &#8220;will be&#160;fine&#8221;</span></a>]]></description>
  238. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>On March 26, 2025, five-member Japanese a cappella vocal group The Gospellers released the music video for “will be fine,” which is a collaboration with singer-songwriter Anly. The song is being used as the ending theme for the Winter 2025 anime, <em>Ameku M.D.: Doctor Detective</em>. I have to be upfront in this review and admit that my only familiarity with the anime comes from reading a series synopsis and anibloggers’ opinions of the anime.</p>
  239. <p>Musically, “will be fine” is a slow-to-midtempo ballad, and it has a sound that works well for the ending theme of an anime series. As I listened to this song, I was pleasantly surprised to hear a break at one point where there was a brief bit of a cappella. I thought the harmonies and voices sounded great with the music, but getting to hear The Gospellers sing an a cappella section demonstrated just how good of singers they are. Anly also sounds good, and the inclusion of her vocals adds a texture to the track and helps a good song sound even better.</p>
  240. <p>Unfortunately, the music video I watched for “will be fine” on YouTube did not include an English translation in the video’s closed captioning. However, I did find an English translation that was posted to the internet. From reading through the translation, the song seems to be from the point of view of a speaker addressing another person who they’re close to and expressing a desire to stay by that person’s side. Since the video is made up of footage from the <em>Ameku M.D.: Doctor Detective</em> anime, what I seemed to pick up from the visual cues in the video is that the song is likely about the main character and her assistant. However, the lyrics are written in such a way that they could be applied in a more universal way outside of the anime that it’s being used for.</p>
  241. <p>I enjoyed “will be fine,” and it’s a song I would look forward to hearing every week if I was watching the simulcast. Fans of The Gospellers, Anly, and of <em>Ameku M.D.: Doctor Detective</em> will likely enjoy this song, although I think that listeners who already have an appreciation for J-pop might find something to like here as well. As for western music audiences, I believe this song will appeal to listeners who enjoy pop music and don’t mind listening to a song that’s being sung in a foreign language.</p>
  242. <div class="jetpack-video-wrapper">
  243. <div class="embed-youtube"><iframe title="ゴスペラーズ 『will be fine feat. Anly』Music Video / TVアニメ「天久鷹央の推理カルテ」エンディングテーマ" width="825" height="464" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3lfnikn920s?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
  244. </div>
  245. <p><em>(reviewed by Lesley Aeschliman on March 27, 2025)</em></p>
  246. ]]></content:encoded>
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  258. <title>Song Review: Evanescence &#8211; &#8220;Afterlife&#8221;</title>
  259. <link>https://aeschtunes.com/2025/03/27/song-review-evanescence-afterlife/</link>
  260. <comments>https://aeschtunes.com/2025/03/27/song-review-evanescence-afterlife/#respond</comments>
  262. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Lesley Aeschliman]]></dc:creator>
  263. <pubDate>Thu, 27 Mar 2025 20:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
  264. <category><![CDATA[music]]></category>
  265. <category><![CDATA[review]]></category>
  266. <category><![CDATA[2020s]]></category>
  267. <category><![CDATA[2020s music]]></category>
  268. <category><![CDATA[Afterlife]]></category>
  269. <category><![CDATA[Evanescence]]></category>
  270. <category><![CDATA[music review]]></category>
  271. <category><![CDATA[rock]]></category>
  272. <guid isPermaLink="false">http://aeschtunes.com/?p=25508</guid>
  273.  
  274. <description><![CDATA[On March 27, 2025, a lyric video was released for “Afterlife” by Evanescence. The song is being used as a theme song for the reboot anime of Devil May Cry, which will air on Netflix during the Spring 2025 anime season. While I’ve never played the Devil May Cry game series, I have watched the&#8230; <a href="https://aeschtunes.com/2025/03/27/song-review-evanescence-afterlife/" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">Song Review: Evanescence &#8211; &#8220;Afterlife&#8221;</span></a>]]></description>
  275. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>On March 27, 2025, a lyric video was released for “Afterlife” by Evanescence. The song is being used as a theme song for the reboot anime of <em>Devil May Cry</em>, which will air on Netflix during the Spring 2025 anime season. While I’ve never played the <em>Devil May Cry</em> game series, I have watched the original anime adaptation from 2007, so I have some familiarity with the franchise. I was intrigued when I learned that Evanescence would be doing a theme song for it, although it appears the actual theme song will be an alternate version of the track. But from what I understand, the lyric video that was posted is for the original version of the song.</p>
  276. <p>Musically, “Afterlife” starts out with a slow intro, but then quickly explodes into a mid-to-uptempo rock track. I have to say that this song truly rocks. I found this song to be as strong as the material from Evanescence’s 2003 album, <em>Fallen</em>. While you can kind of hear that Amy Lee’s voice has changed a little over the past 20+ years, she still sounds really strong and can hit the notes and belt out her delivery just as well as she did during the band’s heyday.</p>
  277. <p>Lyrically, “Afterlife” seems to be from the point of view of a speaker who seems like they’ve been out for revenge and now seem to potentially be facing their own death. But, they seem like they’re ready to die and join the ones that the speaker has been avenging. From what I know of <em>Devil May Cry</em>, this kind of interpretation would likely work for Dante, the main character, since he’s been hunting demons to find the ones who killed his mother and brother.</p>
  278. <p>It&#8217;s been years since I last hear something new by Evanescence, but I found that I really enjoyed “Afterlife.” I think that fans of Evanescence will likely have the strongest appreciation for this track, and I think listeners who have an interest in the <em>Devil May Cry</em> franchise might like this as well. I also believe that “Afterlife” could hold an appeal to listeners who have an appreciation for gothic rock or alternative metal.</p>
  279. <div class="jetpack-video-wrapper">
  280. <div class="embed-youtube"><iframe title="Devil May Cry | Official Lyric Video | Afterlife by Evanescence | Netflix" width="825" height="464" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/VyT00IwHGI8?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
  281. </div>
  282. <p><em>(reviewed by Lesley Aeschliman on March 27, 2025)</em></p>
  283. ]]></content:encoded>
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  295. <title>Song of the Moment: The Supremes &#8211; &#8220;Stop! In the Name of Love&#8221;</title>
  296. <link>https://aeschtunes.com/2025/03/27/song-of-the-moment-the-supremes-stop-in-the-name-of-love/</link>
  297. <comments>https://aeschtunes.com/2025/03/27/song-of-the-moment-the-supremes-stop-in-the-name-of-love/#respond</comments>
  299. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Lesley Aeschliman]]></dc:creator>
  300. <pubDate>Thu, 27 Mar 2025 17:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
  301. <category><![CDATA[music]]></category>
  302. <category><![CDATA[1960s]]></category>
  303. <category><![CDATA[1960s music]]></category>
  304. <category><![CDATA[60s]]></category>
  305. <category><![CDATA[60s music]]></category>
  306. <category><![CDATA[R&B]]></category>
  307. <category><![CDATA[Stop! In the Name of Love]]></category>
  308. <category><![CDATA[The Supremes]]></category>
  309. <guid isPermaLink="false">http://aeschtunes.com/?p=23418</guid>
  310.  
  311. <description><![CDATA[The first exposure I remember having to The Supremes was through “Stop! In the Name of Love” being used for D-TV, a music video television series that began airing on the Disney Channel in the mid-1980’s as filler material. These music videos combined footage from various Disney productions. I was nine years old at the&#8230; <a href="https://aeschtunes.com/2025/03/27/song-of-the-moment-the-supremes-stop-in-the-name-of-love/" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">Song of the Moment: The Supremes &#8211; &#8220;Stop! In the Name of&#160;Love&#8221;</span></a>]]></description>
  312. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The first exposure I remember having to The Supremes was through “Stop! In the Name of Love” being used for <em>D-TV</em>, a music video television series that began airing on the Disney Channel in the mid-1980’s as filler material. These music videos combined footage from various Disney productions. I was nine years old at the time when the D-TV videos began airing, and I had no real knowledge of any of artists whose material was used for it. I remember thinking that “Stop! In the Name of Love” was a catchy song and really liking it. Later, I would learn about The Supremes, Motown, and Holland-Dozier-Holland, and my appreciation for the song grew even more.</p>
  313. <p>From what I’ve read, it appears that Lamont Dozier was inspired to write the song after he was cheated on by his girlfriend, and I can believe that story to be true. It helps that Diana Ross’ vocal performance helps to sell the emotion of the speaker of the song. Florence Ballard and Mary Wilson backing vocals complement Diana’s performance.</p>
  314. <p>To be honest, I’m really not surprised that “Stop! In the Name of Love” hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100 on March 27, 1965 and held there for two weeks. Knowing what I know now about the popular music from that era, it fit in perfectly with what else was becoming popular at the time yet still had something in its musical production to help make it stand out a little more from its contemporaries. Over the years, the song has become known for being a Motown classic.</p>
  315. <p>“Stop! In the Name of Love” was nominated for the 1966 Grammy for Best Contemporary Rock &amp; Roll Group Vocal Performance, but it lost to the Statler Brothers’ “Flowers on the Wall.” However, the song has gone on to be inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. And in 2021, it was listed at number 254 on <em>Rolling Stone</em>’s Top 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.</p>
  316. <div class="jetpack-video-wrapper">
  317. <div class="embed-youtube"><iframe title="Stop! In The Name Of Love" width="825" height="619" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9JiS02O4fEk?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
  318. </div>
  319. ]]></content:encoded>
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  327. <media:title type="html">aeschtunes</media:title>
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  330. <item>
  331. <title>Song of the Moment: Darren Hayes &#8211; &#8220;Insatiable&#8221;</title>
  332. <link>https://aeschtunes.com/2025/03/26/song-of-the-moment-darren-hayes-insatiable/</link>
  333. <comments>https://aeschtunes.com/2025/03/26/song-of-the-moment-darren-hayes-insatiable/#respond</comments>
  335. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Lesley Aeschliman]]></dc:creator>
  336. <pubDate>Wed, 26 Mar 2025 17:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
  337. <category><![CDATA[music]]></category>
  338. <category><![CDATA[2000s]]></category>
  339. <category><![CDATA[2000s music]]></category>
  340. <category><![CDATA[Darren Hayes]]></category>
  341. <category><![CDATA[Insatiable]]></category>
  342. <category><![CDATA[pop music]]></category>
  343. <guid isPermaLink="false">http://aeschtunes.com/?p=25423</guid>
  344.  
  345. <description><![CDATA[&#8220;Insatiable&#8221; was released as the debut solo single from Darren Hayes&#8217; 2002 album, Spin. The single was released on January 7, 2002, and peaked at number 77 on the Billboard Hot 100. Prior to his solo debut, Darren was the lead singer for Savage Garden. I was 26 years old when &#8220;Insatiable&#8221; was released as&#8230; <a href="https://aeschtunes.com/2025/03/26/song-of-the-moment-darren-hayes-insatiable/" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">Song of the Moment: Darren Hayes &#8211; &#8220;Insatiable&#8221;</span></a>]]></description>
  346. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>&#8220;Insatiable&#8221; was released as the debut solo single from Darren Hayes&#8217; 2002 album, <em>Spin</em>. The single was released on January 7, 2002, and peaked at number 77 on the Billboard Hot 100. Prior to his solo debut, Darren was the lead singer for Savage Garden.</p>
  347. <p>I was 26 years old when &#8220;Insatiable&#8221; was released as a single. I really liked Savage Garden, so I was very curious to hear what Darren would have to offer as a solo artist. I loved &#8220;Insatiable&#8221; the very first time I heard it, and I still think it&#8217;s a great song. I thought this was a beautiful ballad, and was just as strong, if not stronger, than the ballads that Savage Garden had released. I also felt that Darren’s vocal performance was the cherry on top for this song, as his smooth delivery adds the perfect texture to complement its musical arrangement.</p>
  348. <p>It&#8217;s always been disappointing to me that this single, as well as the <em>Spin</em> album, didn&#8217;t perform better in the United States. In more recent years, though, I came to learn through interviews that Darren has given how the American record label dropped their support of the <em>Spin</em> album after the music video for “Insatiable” was deemed “too gay.” That certainly explains why we didn’t get any additional singles from the album released in the United States while international audiences did. It’s a shame, though, as I think “<a href="https://aeschtunes.com/2025/02/13/song-of-the-moment-darren-hayes-crush-1980-me/">Crush (1980 Me)</a>” could have been a hit in the U.S. if the American label had actually bothered to release and promote it.</p>
  349. <p>“Insatiable” was released during the time that we were compiling the AeschTunes Top 40, and for us, including this song on it was a no-brainer. “Insatiable” <a href="https://aeschtunes.com/2018/03/02/aeschtunes-top-40-chart-january-22-2002/">debuted on the chart in January 2002</a> and <a href="https://aeschtunes.com/2018/03/02/aeschtunes-top-40-chart-march-26-2002/">peaked at number one in March 2002</a>. The song held the number one spot on our chart for two weeks.</p>
  350. <p>While the United States didn’t get any additional singles promoted from <em>Spin</em> in the United States, there were three more released to international audiences: “Strange Relationship,” “Crush (1980 Me),” and “I Miss You.”</p>
  351. <div class="jetpack-video-wrapper">
  352. <div class="embed-youtube"><iframe title="Darren Hayes - Insatiable (Official Music Video)" width="825" height="464" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9u7hGkL57N8?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
  353. </div>
  354. ]]></content:encoded>
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  357. <slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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  362. <media:title type="html">aeschtunes</media:title>
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  365. <item>
  366. <title>Album Review: Adam Lambert &#8211; &#8220;The Original High&#8221; (Deluxe Edition)</title>
  367. <link>https://aeschtunes.com/2025/03/25/album-review-adam-lambert-the-original-high-deluxe-edition/</link>
  368. <comments>https://aeschtunes.com/2025/03/25/album-review-adam-lambert-the-original-high-deluxe-edition/#respond</comments>
  370. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Lesley Aeschliman]]></dc:creator>
  371. <pubDate>Tue, 25 Mar 2025 17:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
  372. <category><![CDATA[music]]></category>
  373. <category><![CDATA[review]]></category>
  374. <category><![CDATA[2010s]]></category>
  375. <category><![CDATA[2010s music]]></category>
  376. <category><![CDATA[Adam Lambert]]></category>
  377. <category><![CDATA[music review]]></category>
  378. <category><![CDATA[pop music]]></category>
  379. <category><![CDATA[The Original High]]></category>
  380. <guid isPermaLink="false">http://aeschtunes.com/?p=23510</guid>
  381.  
  382. <description><![CDATA[On June 12, 2015, singer Adam Lambert released his third album, The Original High. Adam rose to fame in 2009 after finishing as a runner-up on the eighth season of American Idol, and had a Top 3 album in the United States in 2009 with For Your Entertainment. In 2012, his second album, Trespassing, hit&#8230; <a href="https://aeschtunes.com/2025/03/25/album-review-adam-lambert-the-original-high-deluxe-edition/" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">Album Review: Adam Lambert &#8211; &#8220;The Original High&#8221; (Deluxe&#160;Edition)</span></a>]]></description>
  383. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img data-attachment-id="23509" data-permalink="https://aeschtunes.com/adam-lambert-the-original-high/" data-orig-file="https://aeschtunes.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/adam-lambert-the-original-high.jpg" data-orig-size="1000,1000" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}" data-image-title="Adam Lambert The Original High" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://aeschtunes.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/adam-lambert-the-original-high.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://aeschtunes.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/adam-lambert-the-original-high.jpg?w=825" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-23509 aligncenter" src="https://aeschtunes.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/adam-lambert-the-original-high.jpg" alt="Adam Lambert The Original High" width="1000" height="1000" /></p>
  384. <p>On June 12, 2015, singer Adam Lambert released his third album, <em>The Original High</em>. Adam rose to fame in 2009 after finishing as a runner-up on the eighth season of <em>American Idol</em>, and had a Top 3 album in the United States in 2009 with <em>For Your Entertainment</em>. In 2012, his second album, <em>Trespassing</em>, hit number one on the Billboard Top 200 album chart. After releasing <em>Trespassing</em>, Adam left the RCA record label due to “creative differences” and was signed by Warner Bros. Prior to the release of <em>The Original High</em>, Adam had toured with Queen as a vocalist.</p>
  385. <p>With all of that success and attention, as well as the fact that Adam was releasing material under a new label, there were expectations for <em>The Original High</em>. The album performed pretty well, and it debuted and peaked at number three on the Billboard Top 200 album chart. The two singles from the album, though, were a different story. Lead-off single “Ghost Town” peaked at number 64 on the Billboard Hot 100, while “Another Lonely Night” only made it onto Billboard’s Adult Pop Airplay and Dance Club Songs charts. Unfortunately  for “Ghost Town,” it probably didn’t help that Madonna had released a single for a song called “Ghosttown” about a month before Adam’s single. As of this writing, <em>The Original High</em> is the last of Adam Lambert’s albums to hit the Top 10 on the Billboard 200 album chart.</p>
  386. <p>This review of <em>The Original High</em> focuses on the Deluxe Edition of the release, which includes three bonus tracks.</p>
  387. <p>The album opens with the lead-off single, “Ghost Town.” Musically, the song opens with an acoustic sound in its intro, before adding more instrumentation and having more of a laid-back pop/EDM sound to it. The song goes through these sonic shifts a handful of times, but I didn’t find this to be jarring or awkward. However, I can’t help but think that the sonic feel of this song was strongly influenced by Avicii’s <em>True</em> album, which was released about two years earlier, and the label promoted it as a single in the hopes of achieving the same success as Avicii’s “Wake Me Up.” Adam has described the song as being like “an existential dance goth rave thing,” and looking at the lyrics, I think he might be on to something with that description. Reading through the lyrics, I can almost see this as Adam looking back on his music career up to this point and ruminating over the issues he had had with his previous record label. To me, “Ghost Town” is one of the standouts on <em>The Original High</em>.</p>
  388. <div class="jetpack-video-wrapper">
  389. <div class="embed-youtube"><iframe title="Adam Lambert - &quot;Ghost Town&quot; [Official Music Video]" width="825" height="464" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Ix8ocFEMa1o?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
  390. </div>
  391. <p>Next is the title song, which is an EDM-leaning upbeat pop track. To be honest, I think this would have been a much better single to lead off the album, as it’s catchy, it would have fit in with what was going on at pop at the time, and there wouldn’t have been the issue of having a single with the same name as a current Madonna single. The production on this is really slick, which to me, makes the song sound like an obvious single choice. I think some really good remixes could have done for this song as well to help promote it to dance clubs and dance radio. Adam’s vocal performance is also really good on this one. Lyrically, “the original high” being referenced to is the “high” of being in a romantic relationship, which is something that listeners can easily relate to. I also think this song is a highlight of the album, and it’s too bad that it was never released as a single.</p>
  392. <div class="jetpack-video-wrapper">
  393. <div class="embed-youtube"><iframe title="Adam Lambert - The Original High [Official Audio]" width="825" height="464" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/84GoSJNGEXs?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
  394. </div>
  395. <p>This is followed by “Another Lonely Night,” which was released as the second and final single from <em>The Original High</em>. Musically, this starts with a slow and minimalistic intro before becoming a slow-to-mid EDM-leaning pop track. In my opinion, the intro runs a little long for a song that runs a little four minutes in length which makes the track feel like it’s taking a little too long to get going. I think this was promoted as a single to showcase Adam doing a slower song, but after the performance of “Ghost Town,” this likely wasn’t the strongest song to follow that up with. I see there was an EP released for this song, which included a “pop mix” of “Another Lonely Night,” as well as three remixes. Perhaps the mixes on that     EP are stronger than the version of the song on the album, but I haven’t heard any of them. Lyrically, the song is from the point of view of a speaker who’s remembering a lost love and realizing the loneliness that they feel. This isn’t a bad song, but to me, it’s not one of the stronger tracks on <em>The Original High</em>.</p>
  396. <p>“Underground” is the first of three songs on <em>The Original High</em> that Adam Lambert didn’t contribute to on the writing side. This pretty close to a ballad, with is a pop sound that has a hint of a harder feel to it. I love the vibe of this song, and Adam’s vocal performance sells the emotions of the lyrics. Lyrically, the song is from the point of view of a speaker who is dealing with not having someone around that they’re interested in romantically and how they can’t seem to give up on their desire for that person.  If the label had wanted to highlight a slower song as a second single, it seems like “Underground” would have been the stronger choice. Sonically, it fit in with what was going on at the time at pop radio, and Adam’s vocal performance would have sold this song to listeners. To me, “Underground” is another highlight on the album.</p>
  397. <div class="jetpack-video-wrapper">
  398. <div class="embed-youtube"><iframe title="Adam Lambert - Underground [Official Audio]" width="825" height="464" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8IJlzrswbI4?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
  399. </div>
  400. <p>Next is “There I Said It,” which is the first true ballad on <em>The Original High</em>. Adam’s vocals are incredible here, and they’re among some of the strongest on the album. One thing I really like about this song is how it increases in intensity as it goes along, and then just stops right at the end. I thought this was an effective way to help emphasize the lyrics of the song, which sees a speaker standing up for themselves to someone who has caused the speaker to hide the truth of their feelings prior to this point. Adam’s vocal performance sounds poignant, and the listener believes that he’s genuine about what he’s saying. To me, “There I Said It” is a true standout on <em>The Original High</em>.</p>
  401. <div class="jetpack-video-wrapper">
  402. <div class="embed-youtube"><iframe title="There I Said It" width="825" height="619" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/xJYvLkmVhqc?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
  403. </div>
  404. <p>This is followed by “Rumors,” which is a collaboration with Swedish singer and songwriter Tove Lo. Musically, this is a slow-to-midtempo track that is an EDM-leaning pop song. What I find interesting is that even though this is a song that was recorded 10 years ago, this is something that sonically, almost sounds like a song that was released in the 2020’s. I’ve heard more recent songs on dance radio that sound quite similar to this, and I could easily hear this getting airplay as a new song today at dance radio. Adam Lambert and Tove Lo sound great here, as their voices complement each other quite well. Lyrically, the song seems to be from the point of view of a couple that has been the subject of rumors, and they wonder why they should worry about them or respond to them. While I like “Rumors” and think it’s a good song, I just can’t quite go so far as to consider it a standout on <em>The Original High</em>.</p>
  405. <p>“Evil in the Night” is the second song on the album where Adam Lambert didn’t contribute anything as a writer. This one starts with a slower and minimal intro before picking up the tempo and adding instrumentation. Once the song really gets going, there’s a bit of a disco and almost a “funky” feel to some of the music in the arrangement. This is a song where there are some sonic shifts throughout it, but the shifts aren’t awkward or intrusive. In fact, I think these shifts help to enhance the song on a musical level. Adam’s vocal delivery works well with the sound of the music on this one. Musically, this one has a lot of the hallmarks of the pop and EDM tracks of the mid-2010’s, and I think it’s a track that could have gotten airplay at dance radio if it had been promoted as a single. Lyrically, this one seems to be from the point of view of a speaker who seems to have fallen for and desire someone who might be considered dangerous. Like with “Rumors,” I think it’s a good song, but I don’t think I’d be quite willing to call it a standout on the album.</p>
  406. <p>Next is “Lucy,” which features Brian May of Queen on guitar. Musically, this a pop track with a harder feel to it, thanks in strong part to Brian May’s guitar part. While this sounds noticeably different from a lot of the material on <em>The Original High</em>, it doesn’t throw off the flow of the album as whole. Lyrically, the song is about a woman named Lucy and how she gets mixed up with a wrong and dangerous crowd. Adam’s vocal performance is intense here, but it’s what this song calls for. To me, “Lucy” is a major standout track on this album because it stands out in a good way, especially with Brian May’s guitar work and Adam’s vocal performance.</p>
  407. <div class="jetpack-video-wrapper">
  408. <div class="embed-youtube"><iframe title="Lucy (feat. Brian May)" width="825" height="619" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/StaOPvb31AU?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
  409. </div>
  410. <p>This is followed by “Things I Didn’t Say,” which returns the album to a more typical mid-2010’s pop-leaning EDM sound. The song is a mid-to-uptempo track that has an “airy” feel to it that almost gives off a “summer vibe.” This is another song on <em>The Original High</em> that almost sounds like something that was released a few years later in the 2020’s. Lyrically, “Things I Didn’t Say” seems to be from the point of view of a speaker who seems to be confused about why someone they’re interested in doesn’t seem to be receptive to them and why the other person seems to be misunderstanding the speaker. I really liked the sound of this one, and I think it’s among the standouts on the album.</p>
  411. <div class="jetpack-video-wrapper">
  412. <div class="embed-youtube"><iframe title="Things I Didn&#039;t Say" width="825" height="619" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KeOM-EfGvGk?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
  413. </div>
  414. <p>“The Light” is the last of three songs on the original album that had no writing input from Adam Lambert. Musically, this one has the hallmarks that one would expect from a mid-2010’s pop-leaning EDM track. Adam’s vocals sound good on this track, but I can’t help but feel that there’s really not much here to make “The Light” stand out from other similar songs being released as the time. The only thing that sounds like it’s an Adam Lambert track is Adam Lambert’s vocals. To be honest, this sounds more on the generic side for music being released during that time period. You could easily replace Adam’s vocals with someone else’s vocals and not have it hurt the song. “The Light” isn’t a bad song, but I think it’s the most generic sounding song on the album.</p>
  415. <p>The final track on the regular version of <em>The Original High</em> is “Heavy Fire,” which has a very slow and blippy intro before become more intense around 35 to 40 seconds into the track. To be honest, Adam’s vocals sound great on this track, but the music that’s backing him overall sounds like it’s plodding and it doesn’t really grab my interest for most of it. The music becomes fuller and a little more interesting right near the end, but by that point, I had just about checked out. Lyrically, Adam has described the song as being about paradoxes people face when they’re trying to be a good person but having to sometimes do something that feels wrong in order to do better. I like the lyrical ideas here, but I just don’t think the music works quite as well as it could have. At least the song was sequenced as the ending track for the regular edition of the album, so it doesn’t do too much damage to the flow of the overall album.</p>
  416. <p>The Deluxe Edition of <em>The Original High</em> includes three bonus tracks at the end, and only the first one had any writing input by Adam Lambert.</p>
  417. <p>The first bonus track is “After Hours,” which is the shortest track on this disc, clocking in at two minutes and 44 seconds. Musically, this one is a mid-to-uptempo track that sounds catchy at first, but it gets kind of stuck in a rut musically during its runtime. It’s an OK song, but I can hear why this was left off the main album. It wouldn’t have fit in with the material that did make it onto the main album’s tracklist and would have broken the cohesion that the album has.</p>
  418. <p>The second bonus track is “Shame,” which is a fun and uptempo dance track. I thought this song was quite catchy, and I’m surprised that this didn’t make it onto <em>The Original High</em>. There weren’t a lot of catchy and upbeat dance tracks on the album, and I think this would have strengthened the tracklist a little bit. To be honest, I think “Shame” would have been a better inclusion than “The Light.” Lyrically, this one seems to be from the point of view of a speaker who seems to be “in the doghouse” with their significant other and the speaker doesn’t feel that they deserve that.</p>
  419. <div class="jetpack-video-wrapper">
  420. <div class="embed-youtube"><iframe title="Shame" width="825" height="619" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/w46ua-ZSl_I?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
  421. </div>
  422. <p>The final bonus track is “These Boys.” Musically, this is an uptempo pop track, and I like the sound of this one. It sounds like it was inspired by 80’s music but has been given a modern update. Even though I liked this one, I can hear that this song would not have fit in sonically with the other material that made it onto <em>The Original High</em>. I’m glad that Adam was able to include it as a bonus track on the Deluxe Edition.</p>
  423. <div class="jetpack-video-wrapper">
  424. <div class="embed-youtube"><iframe title="These Boys" width="825" height="619" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/d5CJVgQZdVU?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
  425. </div>
  426. <p>Overall, I think that <em>The Original High</em> is a strong album and has a cohesive feel to it. There was a lot of pop-friendly material on it that likely would have connected with audiences at the time if there had been better singles promoted from this release. While this album may have been a Top 3 hit on the Billboard 200 chart, it didn’t have the longevity of <em>For Your Entertainment</em> for its chart run, although it managed to get five more weeks on the chart than <em>Trespassing</em> did. I found <em>The Original High</em> to be a hidden gem that pop music listeners should check out, because there’s a good chance that they’ll like what they hear.</p>
  427. <p><em>(reviewed by Lesley Aeschliman on March 25, 2025)</em></p>
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